OTTAWA – General Walt Natynczyk, the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), will present 58 Mention in Dispatches insignias, nine CDS Commendations, and a Canadian Forces (CF) Medallion for Distinguished Service, during a ceremony at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Valcartier, Quebec tomorrow. In addition to 26 recipients from the Valcartier area, recipients will be coming from across Canada.

Ottawa, Ontario – The Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, today announced that eight CH-146 Griffon helicopters will be deployed to Afghanistan in early 2009 as part of the Joint Task Force Afghanistan (JTFA) – Air Wing. The helicopters, with crews from 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron based in Edmonton, Alberta, will act as escort aircraft for the recently acquired CH-147 D Chinook helicopters. The deployment of the Griffon helicopters directly supports Canada’s commitment to meet the conditions set forth by the Independent Panel on Canada’s Future Role in Afghanistan.

OTTAWA -- The Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, today welcomed the decision of the German Government to contribute personnel to the Canadian-led Staff and Language Training Centre (SLTC-A), in Kabul, Afghanistan. 

OTTAWA – The Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, today announced the appointment of a new member to the Canadian Forces Grievance Board.

OTTAWA – Along with other participation by the Canadian Forces, General Walt Natynczyk, Chief of the Defence Staff, will perform the coin toss during the opening ceremonies of the Canadian Football League’s 96th Grey Cup final on Sunday.

CORNWALLIS, NS – The Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, today released the following statement at the conclusion of the Regional Command South meetings in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia:

KINGSTON, ON – LtGen Andrew Leslie, Chief of the Land Staff, today announced that a Board of Inquiry has been convened at CFB Kingston to investigate the circumstances surrounding the allegations made last June of assault by Afghan National Security Forces members in the Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, in late 2006 or early 2007.

OTTAWA, ON – The Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Gateway, is hosting informal working meetings with his colleagues from countries with forces that are part of the International Security Assistance Force’s (ISAF) Regional Command South in Afghanistan.  Representatives from the United States, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Romania, Estonia, Denmark and Australia will attend.  The meetings will be held on November 21, 2008, at the Annapolis Basin Conference Centre in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia.

OTTAWA – The Flight Safety Investigation Report (FSIR) for the crash of Sea King helicopter CH12438 offshore of Denmark on February 2, 2006, will be available today on the Air Force Directorate of Flight Safety web site.

OTTAWA - There will be a ceremony of remembrance at the National Military Cemetery on November 11, 2008, at 10:15 a.m. The ceremony will honour those Canadian Forces members interred at the cemetery, and all of those who have fallen in the service of Canada.

Here at home, we know we can turn to you who wear the maple leaf to deal with catastrophic events like floods, forest fires, hurricanes and earthquakes.

OTTAWA – The life of Charley Fox, Second World War veteran and Honorary Colonel (HCol) for 412 (Transport) Squadron in Ottawa, was celebrated at a memorial service today at the Ottawa Airport.

OTTAWA ─ As the Holiday Season approaches, Canadian Forces Personnel and Family Support Services (CFPFSS) would like to remind the public that, while deployed Canadian Forces members appreciate the show of support from Canadians nationwide, the collection of gift boxes and packages for shipment overseas is not practical.

Media are invited to attend a memorial service for iconic Second World War veteran and passionate promoter of Canadian military history, Honorary Colonel Charley Fox, at the Ottawa airport on Sunday, November 2.

The Central Band of the Canadian Forces, along with members of the Air Command Pipes and Drums, invites the public to attend a Remembrance Week concert at the Canadian War Museum, 1 Vimy Place in Ottawa on <strong>Thursday, November 6, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. </strong></p>

Petty Officer Second Class (PO2) Silvya Reid and PO2 Janet Sinclair will face a General Court Martial in relation to the alleged corruption of a Government database in July 2007.

The judging for the 2008 DND Photography Contest is complete, and now it is the turn of the public to vote for the People’s Choice Award.  Celebrating its 40^th year, the DND Photography Contest received a record 2113 entries from 328 talented amateur and professional photographers in the Defence community.